One of my favorite movies when I was younger was Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Looking deeper into the movie now, I can see that it has a deeper meaning than just entertainment to a young audience. One character in the movie, Max, is being picked on at school because of his dream journal. He believes that dreams come true, as said by Lavagirl. He also has anxiety about his parents and how much they have been arguing lately, and fears that when he comes home they will give him the bad news that they are splitting.
I think this movie was made to relate to possible a smaller percentage of kids who cannot really connect to many movies and T.V. shows because they do not have perfect families. Another character, Linus, is the foil of Max, and has been the main cause of his fear of school. He picks on him for writing down his dreams he has and believing that they are real-life. Later in the movie when they resolve their problems, Max tells Linus that he doesn't have to put others down and destroy their dreams just because his were crushed before. It gives young kids a good lesson and could also help some young ones who are having trouble with a deep rooted insecurity they haven't been able to talk about. This movie shows that some kids pick on others because they have been hurt by someone else before. Lavagirl also shows another problem, she struggles with her self-identity. She feels as if she is seen by others as just someone who destroys things because of her fire. She thinks that she has more potential, but she isn't able to see it in herself. Max helps her by remembering his dreams, and tells her that she does not destroy, but that she resembles light. Sharkboy lost his father as a young boy, and also is haunted by the fact that his father could have died at the bottom of the ocean. He shows uncertainty and takes anger out on others because he has been raised by sharks, resembling toughness and violence. Later he finds out that his father is actually in the bottom of the ocean, but in a submarine, looking for him. Max's friends Sharkboy and Lavagirl are able to bring his parents together, by finding each other's differences and accepting them.
All these characters and their internal struggles show the things many young kids could have trouble overcoming. But they are also given reassurance and solutions. Some might see this as a way to change their negative behaviors, or to feel less weight on themselves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Sharkboy_and_Lavagirl_in_3-D
(picture)
I agree the movie, like a lot of children's movies, have hidden meanings within them that a young child may not understand. But, do you think the message should've been more clear about the true message they were trying to get to the audience, such as overcoming the insecurities that one may have?
ReplyDelete